New International VersionThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
New Living TranslationBut Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
English Standard VersionThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”
Berean Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
Berean Literal BibleThen Paul said to him, "God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall! And you, do you sit judging me according to the Law, and, violating law, command me to be struck?"
King James BibleThen said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
New King James VersionThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
New American Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?”
NASB 1995Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
NASB 1977Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
Legacy Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
Amplified BibleThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
Christian Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?”
American Standard VersionThen said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Contemporary English VersionPaul turned to the high priest and said, "You whitewashed wall! God will hit you. You sit there to judge me by the Law of Moses. But at the same time you order men to break the Law by hitting me."
English Revised VersionThen said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you hypocrite! You sit there and judge me by Moses' Teachings and yet you break those teachings by ordering these men to strike me!"
Good News TranslationPaul said to him, "God will certainly strike you--you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the Law, yet you break the Law by ordering them to strike me!"
International Standard VersionAt this Paul told him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"
NET BibleThen Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?"
New Heart English BibleThen Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit to judge me according to the Law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
Webster's Bible TranslationThen said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Weymouth New Testament"Before long," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you, you white-washed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the Law, and do you yourself actually break the Law by ordering me to be struck?" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
World English BibleThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthen Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall, and you sit judging me according to the Law, and violating law, order me to be struck!”
Berean Literal BibleThen Paul said to him, "God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall! And you, do you sit judging me according to the Law, and, violating law, command me to be struck?"
Young's Literal Translation then Paul said unto him, 'God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou -- thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!'
Smith's Literal TranslationThen said Paul to him, God is about to strike thee, thou wall covered with dust: and sittest thou judging me according to law, and commanded me to be struck illegally? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen Paul said to him: “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For would you sit and judge me according to the law, when, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?”
New American BibleThen Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you indeed sit in judgment upon me according to the law and yet in violation of the law order me to be struck?”
New Revised Standard VersionAt this Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Paul said to him, God shall smite you, O you hypocrite: for you sit to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself transgress the law, when you command that I be smitten.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd Paulus said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitened wall, and are you sitting to judge me according to the law, when you violate the law and command to strike me? NT Translations Anderson New TestamentThen Paul said to him: God will smite you, you whitened wall! for do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet violate the law by commanding me to be smitten?
Godbey New TestamentThen Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Haweis New TestamentThen said Paul unto him, God is ready to smite thee, thou whited wall: for art thou sitting to judge me according to the law, and violating that law, commandest me to be smitten?
Mace New Testament
which made Paul say, "may God strike thee, thou plaister'd wall: you sit to judge me according to law, and in defiance of the law you order me to be struck!"
Weymouth New Testament
"Before long," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you, you white-washed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the Law, and do you yourself actually break the Law by ordering me to be struck?"
Worrell New Testament
Then Paul said to him, "God is about to smite you?you whited wall! And do you sit judging me according to the law, and, in violation of law, command me to be smitten?"
Worsley New Testament
Then said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?"
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paul Before the Sanhedrin… 2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3ThenPaulsaidtohim,“Godwillstrike you,youwhitewashedwall!Yousit hereto judgemeaccording tothelaw,yetyou yourself violate the lawby commandingthat Ibe struck.”4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”…
Cross References Matthew 23:27-28Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Ezekiel 13:10-16Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, / tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. / Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’ ...
Matthew 23:25-26Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
Leviticus 19:15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
John 7:24Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
Isaiah 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Matthew 15:7-9You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: / ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
Romans 2:1-3You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. / And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. / So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
James 2:9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Deuteronomy 16:19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Psalm 58:1-2For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? / No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
Isaiah 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
Micah 3:9-11Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right, / who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity. / Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Matthew 7:5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Luke 11:39-44Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...
Treasury of Scripture Then said Paul to him, God shall smite you, you white washed wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law? God. thou whited. Matthew 23:27,28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of deadmen's bones, and of all uncleanness… for. Leviticus 19:35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Psalm 58:1,2 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? … Psalm 82:1,2 A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods… smitten. Deuteronomy 25:1,2 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, thatthe judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked… John 7:51 Doth our law judgeany man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? John 18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. Jump to Previous AccordanceActuallyBlowsBreakCommandCommandestCommandingContraryExclaimedJudgeLawOrderOrdersPaulSitSittestSittingSmiteSmittenStrikeStruckViolateViolationWallWhitedWhitewashedJump to Next AccordanceActuallyBlowsBreakCommandCommandestCommandingContraryExclaimedJudgeLawOrderOrdersPaulSitSittestSittingSmiteSmittenStrikeStruckViolateViolationWallWhitedWhitewashedActs 23 1.As Paul pleads his cause,2.Ananias commands them to strike him.7.Dissension among his accusers.11.God encourages him.14.The Jews' vow to kill Paul,20.is declared unto the chief captain.27.He sends him to Felix the governor.Then Paul said to him,Paul, a former Pharisee and Roman citizen, is speaking to the high priest Ananias during his trial before the Sanhedrin. This setting is significant as Paul is addressing the Jewish religious leadership, highlighting his boldness and confidence in his mission. “God will strike you,
Paul's declaration is prophetic, as Ananias would later meet a violent death. This statement reflects the biblical principle of divine justice, where God avenges wrongdoing. It echoes Old Testament themes where God is seen as the ultimate judge who punishes the wicked. you whitewashed wall!
The term "whitewashed wall" is a metaphor for hypocrisy, similar to Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees as "whitewashed tombs" inMatthew 23:27. It suggests an outward appearance of righteousness that conceals inner corruption. This imagery would resonate with the Jewish audience familiar with the practice of whitewashing tombs to make them appear clean. You sit here to judge me according to the law,
Paul points out the irony of being judged by the law by those who are supposed to uphold it. The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish legal authority, and their role was to interpret and enforce the law. Paul's statement underscores the expectation that they should act justly and lawfully. yet you yourself violate the law
Paul accuses the high priest of breaking the law, referencing the commandment against unjust punishment. This highlights the inconsistency and corruption within the Jewish leadership, who are failing to adhere to the very laws they are meant to enforce. by commanding that I be struck.”
Paul's rebuke is in response to being struck on the mouth, an act that was illegal under Jewish law without a formal conviction. This action reflects the broader theme of injustice faced by early Christians and parallels Jesus' own unjust treatment during His trials. Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulThe apostle and central figure in this passage, who is on trial before the Sanhedrin. 2. AnaniasThe high priest who ordered Paul to be struck, prompting Paul's rebuke. 3. SanhedrinThe Jewish council before which Paul is being tried. 4. JerusalemThe city where this event takes place, significant as the center of Jewish religious life. 5. The TrialThe event where Paul is defending himself against accusations, leading to his confrontation with Ananias. Teaching Points Hypocrisy in LeadershipAnanias represents leaders who fail to uphold the standards they impose on others. This calls for self-examination among leaders in the church to ensure they practice what they preach. Righteous AngerPaul's response, though sharp, is rooted in a desire for justice and truth. Believers can learn to channel their anger towards constructive ends, advocating for righteousness without sinning. Respect for AuthorityDespite his rebuke, Paul later shows respect for the office of the high priest ( Acts 23:5). Christians are called to respect authority while also holding it accountable to God's standards. Courage in AdversityPaul's boldness in speaking truth to power is an example for believers to stand firm in their convictions, even when facing opposition or persecution. God's JusticePaul's declaration that "God will strike you" reflects a trust in divine justice. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God will ultimately right all wrongs. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Acts 23
Are Christians often perceived as hypocritical?
What did Jesus mean by "whitewashed tombs"?
Why do the charges against Paul in Acts 25:7 remain vague, and how does this ambiguity align or conflict with other New Testament accounts of similar trials?
How can Romans 5:12-13 speak of sin causing universal guilt when nonbelievers or infants appear incapable of consciously breaking any law?(3) God shall smite thee, thou whited wall.--The phrase is interesting as showing either that our Lord, in likening the Pharisees to "whitened sepulchers" (see Notes on Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:44), had used a proverbial comparison, or else, as seems equally probable, that it had become proverbial among His disciples as having been so used by Him. The whole utterance must be regarded by St. Paul's own confession as the expression of a hasty indignation, recalled after a moment's reflection; but the words so spoken were actually a prophecy, fulfilled some years after by the death of Ananias by the hands of the sicarii. (Jos. Wars, ii. 17, ?? 2-9). Verse 3.- And for for, A.V.; according to for after, A.V. God shall smite thee ( τύπτεινσε μέλλει). A distinct announcement of something that would happen. (For the incident itself, comp. 1 Kings 22:24, 25; Jeremiah 28:15, 17; and Acts 12:1, 2, 23) Ananias perished by the daggers of the Sicarii (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud,' 2. 17:9), at the beginning of the Jewish war under the procuratorship of Florus, in the year A.D. . He had been previously deposed from the high priesthood by King Agrippa toward the close of the government of Felix ('Ant. Jud.,' 20. 8:8), about A.D. , or early in A.D. , less than two years from the present time. Thou whited wall. This expression is admirably illustrated by the quotations from Seneca in Kuinoel: "These base and sordid spirits are like the walls of their own houses, only beautiful on the outside." "What are our gilt roofs hut lies? for we well know that under the gilding unseemly beams are concealed." "It is not only our walls which are coated with a thin outward ornament; the greatness of those men whom you see strutting in their pride is mere tinsel; look beneath the surface, and you will see all the evil that is hid under that thin crust of dignity" ('De Provid.,' 6, and 'Epist.' 115). Ananias was sitting in his priestly robes of office, presiding over the council in power and dignity, and presumably a righteous judge, but his heart within was polluted with injustice, selfishness, and a corrupt disposition, which made him act unrighteously (comp. Matthew 23:27). Contrary to the Law; or, acting illegally; παρανομῶν, only found here in the New Testament, but common in classical Greek. St. Paul's temper was very excusably roused by the brutality and injustice of Ananias. But we may, perhaps, think that he did not quite attain to "the mind that was in Christ Jesus," who "when he was reviled, reviled not again," but was "led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, he opened not his mouth" ( Acts 8:32).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek ThenΤότε(Tote)Adverb
Strong's 5119:Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.PaulΠαῦλος(Paulos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972:Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.saidεἶπεν(eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.him,αὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.“GodΘεός(Theos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.willμέλλει(mellei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3195:A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.strike [you],Τύπτειν(Typtein)Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 5180:To beat, strike, wound, inflict punishment.youσε(se)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.whitewashedκεκονιαμένε(kekoniamene)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2867:To whitewash, plaster over. From konia; to whitewash.wall!τοῖχε(toiche)Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5109:A wall. Another form of teichos; a wall.Youσὺ(sy)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.sit [here]κάθῃ(kathē)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2521:To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.to judgeκρίνων(krinōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2919:Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.meμε(me)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.according toκατὰ(kata)Preposition
Strong's 2596:A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Law,νόμον(nomon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551:From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.yetκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.you yourself violate the lawπαρανομῶν(paranomōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3891:To act contrary to law. From a compound of para and nomos; to be opposed to law, i.e. To transgress.by commandingκελεύεις(keleueis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2753:To command, order, direct, bid. From a primary kello; 'hail'; to incite by word, i.e. Order.that Iμε(me)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.be struck.?τύπτεσθαι(typtesthai)Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 5180:To beat, strike, wound, inflict punishment.
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NT Apostles: Acts 23:3 Then Paul said to him God will (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
